Home Destinations USA New York New York City Sights Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)

Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) Review

Read our New York City sights reviews. Or post your own.

New York City Categories:

• Overview
• Places to Explore
• Sights
• Restaurants
• Hotels
• Entertainment
• Shopping
• Activities
• Travel Tips
• Features
• Fodor's Choice
• Deals

WHAT'S NEARBY

• Sights
• Dahesh Museum of Art
• Japan Society

• Restaurants
• Adour Alain Ducasse
• Aquavit and Aquavit Café
• More >>

• Hotels
• Affinia 50
• Four Seasons Hotel
• More >>

• Entertainment
• Campbell Apartment
• Divine Bar
• More >>

• Shopping
• A La Vieille Russie
• American Girl Place
• More >>

Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)

Fodor's Review:

Novices and reluctant art enthusiasts are often awestruck by the masterpieces before them here, including Monet's Water Lilies, Picasso's Les Demoiselles d'Avignon, and van Gogh's Starry Night. The museum's recent $425 million face-lift by Yoshio Taniguchi increased exhibition space by nearly 50%, including space to accommodate large-scale contemporary installations. Its new building gave the museum an opportunity to shift focus from modern to contemporary art, evident in the recent creation of a media department. The museum continues to collect: most recently it obtained important works by Martin Kippenberger, David Wojnarowicz, Jasper Johns, Kara Walker, and Neo Rauch. One of the top research facilities in modern and contemporary art is held inside the museum's eight-story "Education and Research" building.

HIGHLIGHTS In addition to the artwork, one of the main draws of MoMA is the building itself. A maze of glass walkways permits art viewing from many angles. The 110-foot atrium entrance (accessed from either 53rd or 54th Street) leads to the movie theater and the main floor restaurant, "Modern," with the Alsatian-inspired cuisine of Chef Gabriel Kreuther. The museum has other worthy food options: Café 2 on the second floor serves rustic Italian cooking; Terrace 5, adjacent to the Painting and Sculpture Galleries, has sophisticated American food, specialty cocktails, and microbrewed beers along with spectacular views. A favorite area in which to take a break is the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Sculpture Garden. Designed by Philip Johnson, it features Barnett Newman's Broken Obelisk (1962-69). The glass wall lets visitors look directly into the surrounding galleries from the garden. Contemporary art (1970 to the present) from the museum's six curatorial departments share the second floor of the six-story building, and the skylighted top floor showcases an impressive lineup of changing exhibits.

Modern Art for the Masses There are many tools the museum uses to make modern art accessible and enjoyable. Audio tours are a classic companion to the collections, but kids will be happy to find that they have their own version with leading questions about color, mood, and even spotting hidden animals in Picassos. Teens, on the other hand, have their own more mature audio tour created and narrated by fellow teenagers. Interactive kiosks in the museum help you navigate the massive space and let you relate work you've seen with those not on display.

Movies and the MoMA There are many tools the museum uses to make modern art accessible and enjoyable. Audio tours are a classic companion to the collections, but kids will be happy to find that they have their own version with leading questions about color, mood, and even spotting hidden animals in Picassos. Teens, on the other hand, have their own more mature audio tour created and narrated by fellow teenagers. Interactive kiosks in the museum help you navigate the massive space and let you relate work you've seen with those not on display.

Two for the Price of OneThe MoMA's high ticket price has been criticized, but what many people forget is that your ticket can also gain you free admission to another museum -- P.S. 1 in Queens. Don't worry; you won't need to trek out to Queen on the same day. Save your ticket and you can go in for free any time within 30 days of your original purchase. MoMA is a popular destination for locals and tourists, and that translates into lines that sometimes snake down the block. Weekdays tend to be less crowded. Come without bags or backpack to avoid the wait for the checkroom. Consider lining up for the free audio guide, especially if the scribbled and rather ambiguous nature of modern art occasionally confounds you. Entrance after 4 on Friday is free, but come expecting to wait in line.

Get Advice From Other Travelers

• New York City Resturants/other
  62 responses; most recent on 11/01/2008, 09:38 pm
• Which is best airport for New York city?
  19 responses; most recent on 11/01/2008, 01:25 am
• New York City Pass DISCOUNT???
  4 responses; most recent on 09/21/2008, 11:33 pm
• Bus into New York City ?
  9 responses; most recent on 09/21/2008, 06:43 pm

Visit the Travel Talk forums for help on planning your trip >>

Buy the Guidebook

• 
  $10.95

• 
  $18.95

Get the Fodor's Newsletter

Read the current issue
For more travel ideas, tips, and deals, sign up for the Fodor's newsletter here. Browse previous issues.